Pliers



' Jan. 17, 1939. A? CRUICKSHANK PLIERS Filed Dc. 13, 1957 INVENTOR.

ALEXANDER. Ck'ulcKsImA/K ATTORNEY- Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICEPLIERS Alexander Cruickshank, Clayburn, British Columbia, CanadaApplication December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,419

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in pliers of the adjustable type,the objects of which are to provide means for securing the pivot pin connecting the plier jaws in adjusted position by applying closing pressureupon the plier handles, and to provide means whereby the pliers can beadjusted for jaw opening by exerting thumb pressure upon one part whenholding the plier handles in one hand. The invention consistsessentially of a plier having jaws and handles, which jaws are pivotallyconnected by a pin held in one jaw and engaging one of a plurality ofnotches formed in a slotted portion of the opposite jaw, said pin beingconnected by pairs of links extending from one of the handles, as willbe more fully described in the following specification and shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view of the pliers closed, with the bar link insection.

Fig. 2 is a general view of the pliers in extended position.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

The numeral I indicates a handle which is formed integrally with a jaw 2and an inwardly projecting lug 3. The lug is provided with a slot 4having a plurality of notches 5 on its lower side, each of which isadapted to selectively receive a pivot pin 6 extending through the lug lof a jaw 8. The lower extremity of the jaw 8 is pivotally connected by apin 9 to a second handle II]. Secured to opposite ends of the pivot pin6 is a bar link I I formed with two side members I2 connected togetherintermediate their length with a bar I3, which, when squeezing pressureis applied to the handles I and III is adapted to bear upon theunderside of the lug 3.

The lower end of the bar link I I is connected to the handle III by alink I4 which is pivoted at its outer end to the handle II] by a pin I5and is pivoted at its inner end to the bar link I I by a pin I6.

As a means of ensuringengagement between the underside of the jaw lug 3and the bar I3, I may use a light spring H, see Figure 1, anchored toeach of the links II and I4, which will tend to swing the lower end ofthe bar link I I towards the handle I.

In use, the tool is set to engage a nut or other article to be grippedby holding both handles I and I0 with one hand, if desired and thumbpressure in an upward direction is applied to the intersection of thelinks II and I4, which releases the pin 6 from its set position in oneof the notches 5 of the slot 4, thus allowing the lug 3 to be movedfreely in or out until the desired jaw opening is attained. When this isdone it suffices to apply the jaws 2 and 8 to the article to be turnedor gripped and to squeeze the handles I and I0 together. The forceapplied to the handles after the jaws have closed upon the article to begripped, forces the bar I3 into firm contact with the underside of thelug 3, thus locking the pivot pin 6 in place in its notch 5 andtransfers the fulcrum between the handles to the pin IE, the link I4 andthe pin 15. Final squeezing pressure of the handles will cause the jaw Bto rock inwardly on the pin 6 in response to outward thrust at the pin 9from the movement of the upper end of the handle I0.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A plier comprising a pair of jaws and a pair of handles, one of saidjaws being formed integrally with one handle and the second jaw beinghingedly connected with the second handle, a lug extending inwardly fromeach jaw, one lug having a slot provided with notches and the second jawhaving a pin passing through said slot and adapted to rest in any ofsaid notches, a bar link connected at one end to the pin and a linkconnected to. the hingedly connected handle and to the bar link, saidbar link having a transverse bar adapted to engage the underside of theslotted lug when closing force is applied to the handles.

2. A plier comprising a pair of jaws and a pair of handles, one of saidjaws being formed inte- I;

grally with one handle and the second jaw being hingedly connected withthe second handle, a lug extending inwardly from. each jaw, one lughaving a slot provided with notches and the second jaw having a pinpassing through said slot and adapted to rest in any of said notches, abar link connected at one end to the pin and a link connected to thehingedly connected handle and

